As there are no dentists in Iriomote Island, it is difficult for the inhabitants to have a chance to receive dental treatment because of transportation problems. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and Okinawa Government and eight dental universities cooperated to send a travelling dental clinic to the no-dentist area like Iriomote Island.
We investigated the change in the dental health of the inhabitants in the western areas of Iriomote Island on the basis of seven reports by the travelling dental clinic from 1974 to 1986.
The following results were obtained:
1. In the schoolchidren, as the decayed teeth decreased and the filled teeth increased, the restorative rate of the dental caries increased for twelve years.
2. But no marked difference was found in the caries prevalence and mean DMFT.
3. The brushing habits and oral hygiene of the schoolchildren gradually improved, but no marked difference was found in the adults.
4. The role of the travelling dental clinic was not only providing dental treatment for the inhabitants. It was suggested that it was time to consider it as one part of the comprehensive dental care including prevention and treatment of dental diseases and rehabilitation.
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